Kukla's Korner Hockey

NEW YORK (July 10, 2013) – The Tim Hortons NHL Heritage Classic™ will return to the regular-season schedule next season when the Vancouver Canucks face off against the Ottawa Senators at BC Place in Vancouver on Sunday, March 2, the National Hockey League announced today. The Canucks become the first NHL® team to host a game in a retractable-roof facility and just the third Canadian NHL team to host a regular-season game outdoors, following the Edmonton Oilers in 2003 and Calgary Flames in 2011.

The game will be broadcast live on CBC and RDS in Canada and on NBC Sports Network in the U.S. SiriusXM Radio will provide live radio coverage.

“With one of the world’s great facilities as the setting, and one of the world’s most scenic cities as the backdrop, the 2014 Tim Hortons NHL Heritage Classic™ at BC Place in Vancouver will honor hockey's Canadian heritage,” Commissioner Gary Bettman said. “With the excitement, the entertainment, the competitiveness and the fun of this game, the Canucks and Senators will create special memories for hockey fans everywhere.”

Additional information surrounding the 2014 Tim Hortons NHL Heritage Classic™, a League-run event, including ticketing information, will be announced in the coming months. Fans interested in news on this and other NHL events should register to receive updates at www.NHL.com/2014Heritage.

“We’re very proud to further extend our title sponsorship of the Tim Hortons NHL Heritage Classic™, and help bring the excitement of outdoor NHL hockey to Vancouver,” said Bill Moir, Chief Brand Marketing Officer, Tim Hortons. “Tim Hortons has an intrinsic connection with hockey at all levels, which makes this event a natural fit for our brand.”

One of the cornerstones of the NHL’s event strategy, the 2011 Tim Hortons NHL Heritage Classic™ took place on a sun-drenched afternoon in Calgary where the home team skated away with a 4-0 victory over the visiting Montreal Canadiens. The event was a critical and financial success, driving substantial growth and fan engagement on North American television, via digital platforms such as NHL.com, through social media platforms, at retail outlets and at sold-out McMahon Stadium. The 2011 Tim Hortons NHL Heritage Classic™ set an NHL event record for both total sponsorship revenue and activation.

Other highlights from the 2011 event include delivering the fourth-largest audience ever at the time for an NHL game on NBC Sports Network and big audiences for CBC and RDS. The 2011 Tim Hortons NHL Heritage Classic™ led NHL.com to its best Sunday performance of the season and was the No. 1 trending topic on Twitter in Canada. Additionally, merchandise sales for the outdoor game were the third-largest in history for an NHL event.

The 2014 matchup between Vancouver and Ottawa recalls and celebrates some of the earliest history of the Stanley Cup® Championship.

In 1915, the Vancouver Millionaires™, the first professional hockey team on the West Coast, were crowned champions of the Pacific Coast Hockey Association. Meanwhile, in the rival league from the East, the National Hockey Association, which two years later became the National Hockey League, the Ottawa Senators were skating to a league title. Earlier, the two leagues agreed to play a series between the champions of each league with the Stanley Cup® awarded to the victor. The Millionaires swept a best-of-five series to claim the Stanley Cup® Championship.

“Canucks Sports & Entertainment is proud to bring the 2014 Tim Hortons NHL Heritage Classic™ to Vancouver to share this marquee event with our fans,” said Michael D. Gillis, President and General Manager, Canucks Sports & Entertainment. “The NHL Heritage Classic™ allows our sport to further celebrate the history of the game while doing so in a unique venue. We look forward to showcasing our city, province, team and fans this upcoming March.”

“The opportunity to participate in this year’s Tim Hortons NHL Heritage Classic™ is something that is very exciting for both our players and our staff,” said Bryan Murray, general manager, Ottawa Senators. “Particularly playing in Vancouver, and against another Canadian team, it is an event that will really provide some nice nationwide recognition for our hockey club. Outdoor games have quickly become marquee events within the NHL calendar and the chance to play in one for the first time is a significant occurrence for our franchise.”

“The 2014 Tim Hortons NHL Heritage Classic™ at the newly renovated BC Place in Vancouver will be a tremendous experience for the fans and players,” said Mathieu Schneider, Special Assistant to the Executive Director, NHLPA. “The players on the Canucks and Senators will embrace the thrill of being a part of the third regular season outdoor game in Canada, a unique event that will be broadcast across North America.”

“British Columbia is excited to welcome the 2014 Tim Hortons NHL Heritage Classic™ to our province,” said Todd Stone, Transportation and Infrastructure Minister. “This is an opportunity to celebrate the history of hockey in our country, and I can think of no better venue than BC Place. With its retractable roof, BC Place will give fans the outdoor experience, while enjoying all the indoor comforts of this fantastic stadium.”

NHL Network™ and NHL.com will provide extensive coverage live from Vancouver leading up to and after the game. NHL Social™ will have coverage on all social platforms, including the use of the hashtag #HeritageClassic.